Did Frodo Fail?

The "failure" of Frodo was success for Tolkien. It makes the story realistic and relatable, unexpected, and complex.

Frodo is actually one of my favorite characters in all of literature. He sacrificed his moral, mental, physical and spiritual well-being to save everyone. Thanks for not forgetting as so many do--the only reason Gollum was there to "save the day" was because Frodo had spared him at the beginning. Sam wanted to kill him. Great video as always, Jess! :-)

Getting in early. Technically, all he agreed to do at the Council of Elrond was to "take the Ring to Mordor". Now that job he did flawlessly 😂

Frodo carried the weight no one else could. He saw how it corrupted himself, he saw how it corrupted the ring wraiths and he saw how it started to corrupt members of the council. He knew the weight of it and because he did not wish it on anyone else, he chose to carry the ring. He chose to sacrifice himself for others, all the way back in Rivendell.

According to Tolkien: only Sam could get Frodo to Mount Doom, only Frodo could get the Ring to Mount Doom, and only Gollum could get the Ring away from Frodo. It was then that Eru reached down and gently nudged Gollum (and the Ring) off the ledge

As I have been reading lotr over and over for 45 years. It has been good to see how I see Frodo differently over the years and how his sacrifice seems all the greater as a 55 year old than reading it as a 10 year old.

I always thought that the Ring destroyed itself by keeping Gollum to his pledge to serve the master of the Ring. Frodo declared himself master, Gollum bit him, and the ring betrayed him to his doom. Evil oft mars evil. Crazy amounts of foreshadowing throughout that book.

Frodo did fail, yes. As anybody else would have failed. The ring was more powerful than he was and it would not allow itself to be destroyed. The only thing more powerful than the ring was Eru and he succeeded in destroying the ring, seemingly by change but ultimately by his will. However, Frodo was the perfect and ultimate ring-bearer, humble enough and strong willed enough to carry it. Frodo offered it willingly to both Gandalf and Galadriel - who both refused the offer and succeeded in overcoming their own tests by doing so. Frodo also refused to turn it over to Boromir, Faramir, Sam and Smeagol demonstrating the wisdom and strength required in his task. Ultimately Frodo is the hero, and worthy of our admiration and praise, but he definitely failed in this mission. Another great video, Jess. Thank you so much.

I think he did exactly what Eru decreed, “nor can any alter the music in my despite for he that attempteth shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful which he himself hath not imagined.” But this topic is great 👍

Even though he failed to cast the ring into the fire himself, he nonetheless succeeded by cursing Gollum to the fire if he should ever try to take it again, thus accomplishing his goal in a roundabout way as Gollum then plunged into the Cracks of Doom after reclaiming it.

I really can't stand readers who underplay Frodo. He is a tortured soul. He succeeds where others would fail simply because of his selflessness and understated bravery. Not all heroes are machos swinging swords.

Also, Gollum swore by the ring, on pain of death to serve frodo in destruction of the Ring. I think this should be mentioned as it definitely plaid a part in his final plunge👌

A hero who never wavers is less interesting than one who wavers. Red badge of courage is a great story because our protagonist flees in fear, but later faces his fear successfully.

Frodo had succeeded as a friend and a hero when he stood up at the Council of Elrond and volunteered to carry the Ring to Mordor, knowing it's effects firsthand. After hearing from Elrond and Gandalf about the nature of the Ring, nobody was volunteering. The plan then was for all 9 to help Frodo get to Mordor, Boromir only broke when the Company had reached the crossroads where it was either Mordor or Gondor.

“Fail” can be used in two senses, either general/ overall, or specific. In the specific sense, Frodo could only fail at something he himself either said he would do, or was trying to do. We assume that he was trying to destroy the ring, as that was the overall mission, but what he said was that he would take the ring to Mordor. Did Frodo ever have the thought that he himself would throw the ring into the fire? Does it matter? Is failure dependent on the pov? Ultimately it’s the questions themselves that are the interesting thing.

Frodo got the ring to where it needed to be when Eru stepped in and gave a tiny shove.

There is nothing more noble than doing a great deed despite the risk, nay certainty, of failure.

Heroism is when someone sacrifice themselves to save others. Frodo knew he will fail the moment he saw Gollum -- he's looking at what he would become. His failure was not a surprise since it was foreshadowed. He failed the moment Shelob got him -- without Sam, it's game over.

Mercy and Pity were not only shown by Frodo in saving Gollum from the archers under the command of Faramir but also in recruiting Sméagol to “team Frodo”. For the first time in centuries someone had treated Sméagol with compassion and pity - even to the extent of trusting him. Sméagol responded very positively to that - “nice master”. Ultimately Gollum could not be redeemed but I have often wondered how the story would have played out if Sam had been able to show Sméagol more compassion.

There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow. Frodo was neither very fat nor very timid; indeed, though he did not know it, Bilbo (and Gandalf) had thought him the best hobbit in the Shire.